Egg box and the like



March 24, 1942. w. H. INMAN 2,277,327

GG BOX AND mm LIKE Filed Feb. 14, 1959 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR.

41$ ATTORNEYS EGG BOX AND THE LIKE A Filed Feb. 14, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 55 INVENTOR.

%i6 ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 24, 1942 EGG BOX AND THE LIKE William H. Inman, Newark, N. Y., assignor to Bloomer Bros. Company, Newark, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 14, 1939, Serial No. 256,290

7 Claims.

My invention relates to egg boxes or cartons of the multiple cell type, although the invention has other applications for packaging fragile or easily damaged articles such as tomatoes, peaches and so forth.

An object of my invention is to provide a collapsible box or carton which may be fabricated inexpensively, and which may be formed from a minimum amount of sheet material.

Another object of my invention is to provide.

a collapsible box or carton of cardboard or like material which is capable of being folded by machine; is adapted to be shipped in flat. knockeddown condition; and which may be quickly erected as the eggs or other articles are placed in the box.

A further object of my invention is the provision of means for enabling the rapid erection of the box, such means being particularly concerned with the shape of the transverse partitions,

to enable them to be more readily folded down into assembled relation with respect to the longitudinal partition.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a collapsible cell type box, into the cells of which eggs or other articles may be more readily inserted, and in which, after erection, the longitudinal and transverse partitions are more securely locked against displacement with respect to each other.

. Other objects and advantages 'of my invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims and will be apparent from the following description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view of a blank, cut and scored in accordance with my invention, preparatory to folding;

Fig 2 is a view showing in solid lines the position of parts after the first folding operation; and indicating in dotted lines the direction in which the blank is folded in performing the second folding operation;

Fig. 3 is a view showing the blank after the second folding operation has been completed;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View of Fig. 3

Fig. 5 is a view showing the position of the parts after the third stage of the folding operation has been completed;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a view showing the position of parts after the fourth stage of the folding operation has been completed;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view through the-box in erected position;

Fig. 10 is a View taken on the line |0|0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged View of a portion of Fig. 1;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a slightly modified form of my invention;

Fig. 13 is a longitudinal, sectional view taken through the box of Fig. 12, and showing the locking arrangement of the transverse partitions with the longitudinal partition; and

Fig. 14 is a view taken on' the line I i-I4 of Fig. 13.

The blank from which the cell type box or carton of my invention is made may be of cardboard, pasteboard, or other suitable sheet material. The blank (Fig, 1) which is preferably rectangular in shape, is divided by score lines 2|, 22, 23, 24, 26, and 21, the distance between score lines being properly determined in advance. The sections of the blank defined by the score lines may be termed a flap section 3|, a top. section 32, a rear wall section 33, a bottom section '34 constituting half the bottom, a longitudinal partition forming section 36, and a second bottom section 31 constituting the other half of the bottom of the box. The remainder of the blank is divided by lines, generally indicated by numerals 38 and 39, which will be later more particularly described, into a front wall section 4|, a transverse partition forming section 42, and a flap section 43. v

The flap section 3| has its corners cut out as shown at 44 and is provided with a series of bayonet slots 46 facing in one direction, and a bayonet slot 41 facing in the opposite direction. The function and operationof the bayonet slots are well known in the art to which this invention applies and their particular construction and arrangement is no part of my present invention.

Extending substantially centrally of the longitudinal partition forming section 36 is a broken fold line, generally indicated by the numeral 5|. The broken fold line 5|, as shown, has a series of spaced aligned fold lines 52 and 53. The broken fold line 5| divides the longitudinal partition forming section into two longitudinal partition sections 54 and 56. Between the ends of adjacent spaced fold lines 52 and 53 and located in the partition section 56, are formed cut outs 51, 58 and 59, which are preferably shaped and positioned as shown. The cut cuts 51, 58 and 59 form tabs 6| which, when the longitudinal partition forming section is folded on the broken fold line 5|, constitute upstanding projections. The tabs 6|, as shown in Fig, 13, extend above the fold line 5| and in the plane of the longitudinal partition to form an extension thereof.

The folding and cutting of the longitudinally forming partition section in the above described manner results in an appreciable saving of material. It; is desirable that the longitudinal partition extend from the bottom to a point adjacent the cover of the box. By cutting the blank so that the tabs 6| are formed, the effective height of the longitudinal partition is substantially that desired while the distance between the fold lines 24 and 26 is reduced, resulting in a saving in material.

The lines, generally indicated by the numerals 38 and 39, are formed by a series of short spaced fold lines 66 and 61. Cut in the transverse partition forming section 42 are a series of transverse partitions 68, 69 and 1|. The transverse partitions B8 are formed by cutting incisions 12 and 13 extending from the ends of the short fold lines 66 and 61 in a longitudinal direction of the blank and converging towards each other as shown. The purpose of tapering the side edges 12 and 13 of the transverse partition will be later described. Cut diagonally and intersecting the ends of the incisions l2 and 13 are incisions '14 which extend at an angle towards each other. Joining substantially the ends of the diagonal incisions M are transversely extending incisions 16, which form the lower edge of one transverse partition and the upper edge of the next adjacent transverse partition.

Formed at the upper ends of the incisions 12 and 13 are relatively short transversely extending fold lines 17. The fold lines Ti, together with the fold lines 66 and 5! and the incisions 14, form tabs 18 upon which the transverse partitions are hinged with respect to the front wall 4| and the flap 43. The transverse partitions, are adapted to swing downward when the box is erected about the fold lines T1 as hinges. The end transverse partition 68 is provided with incisions 19 extending from the ends of the fold lines 71 to the edge of the blank. The transverse partition H is joined to the front wall and the flap 43 by tabs BI, and is similar in all respects to the end transverse partition 68, except that it faces in the opposite direction so as to swing downward during the erection of the box in the opposite direction from that of the transverse partitions 68.

Intermediate the lowermost partition 68 and the partition H are formed the partitions 69, which are similar in shape to the partitions 68 except that they are shorter. The transverse partitions 69 are separated by an incision 82 and are hinged with respect to the front wall 4| and the flap section 43 by tabs 83 similar to the tabs 18. It will be noted, when the box is erected, that the two short transverse partitions 69 swing downward in opposite directions. The purpose of providing the short transverse partitions and facing the transverse partition H in the opposite direction from that of the transverse partitions 68, is to change the direction of downward swinging of the transverse partitions, so

that the transverse partition forming section 42 need be no wider than the remainder of the blank. If all the transverse partitions were the same, one end transverse partition would project beyond the edge of the remainder of the blank. The form of transverse partitions shown and described results in a saving of material.

For the purpose of facilitating the folding of the box, and particularly to assist in the feed of the blank in a commercial glueing machine, the transverse partitions, as shown in Fig. 11, are preferably left slightly joined together by connections or ligaments indicated by the numeral 84. Thus the transverse partitions 68, 69, and II are joined together by connections, which may be readily broken.

Cut centrally of the transverse partitions are T-shaped slits or slots 86 which have longitudinally extending arms 87 and transversely extending short arms 88. Formed in the transverse partitions as extensions of the longitudinally extending arms of the T slots are fold lines 89. The longitudinally extending slits and the fold lines divide each of the transverse partitions in two halves, which may be folded upon each other. Adjacent to the T slots 86 are lines 9|, which, although they be fold lines, are preferably incisions. The incisions 9| extend somewhat at an angle to the arms 81 of the T slits and preferably terminate short of the edges of the transverse partitions and short of the transversely extending short arms 88 of the T slits. There are thus formed by the T slits and the incisions 9| small, somewhat triangularly shaped tabs which, while they may bend about the lines of the incisions 9|, are relatively stiff due to the unsevered portions and do not readily yield to a bending force. The purpose of the triangularly shaped tabs will be later described.

While the blank is in the flat unfolded condition shown in Fig. 1, lines of glue 92 and 93, extending longitudinally, are applied to the blank. One of the advantages of the box of my invention is the fact that both glue lines 92 and 93 may be continuous lines of glueing which may be deposited thereon by the roller of an automatic glueing machine. The line of glueing 92 is on the inside of the rear wall section 33 and is adapted to receive and secure the flap 43 to the rear wall. The glue line 93 is on the under side of the blank and is for the purpose of securing together the sections 54 and 56 of the longitudinal partition forming section 36.

After the blank has been cut, scored, and provided with lines of glueing, as above described, and is in the condition shown in Fig. l, the blank is folded. One of the advantages of the box of my invention is that it may be readily folded by an automatic folding machine. The first step in the folding operation is to swing all of the parts of the blank to the left of the fold line 27 upward about the fold line 27 to the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 2. During the next step of the folding operation the blank is swung on the broken fold line 5|, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. At the completion of the second folding operation the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

With the parts in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the flap 43 and the righthand halves of the crosswise partitions are swung about the fold lines 39 so that part of each of the crosswise partitions overlies the longitudinal partition section 5 3, and the tabs 6| extend through the arms 3! of the T slits 66. When folding has been completed along the fold lines 89, the parts are positioned as they appear in Figs. 5 and 6. The blank is then swung on the fold line 23 so that the sections 33 and 32 overlie the remainder of the sections. After this folding operation has or along the line of adhesive 93.

With the parts in the position shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the blank is ready for shipment. It Will be particularly noted that the box for shipment is in a flat, collapsed condition, but that it is ready for .rapid erection. When the box is to be erected, the front and rear walls are separated, and the bottom brought to a horizontal position. The transverse partitions may be then swung down about their hinge points into strad dling engagement with the longitudinal partition. During this operation the connections or ligaments 84 are broken. The box may be either erected by hand, or by machine, but the erection may be accomplished with such facility that chine erection is unnecessary.

One important advantage in the use of the slits 86 as distinguished from slots lies in the fact that the slits facilitate the erection of the box after shipment or erection from the position of the parts shown in Fig. 7. It will be noted (Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive) that the tabs 59 and GI' project through the slits '86 so that when the front and rear walls are separated during erection, the margins of the slits pinch the sides of the tabs 59 and GI and tend to prevent the tabs from falling out of the slits. If slots were employed the tabs would readily drop out of the slots and make it necessary for the erector to reinsert the tabs in the slots during the portion of the erection in which the transverse partitions are folded down.

It will be particularly noted that, the side edges of the transverse partitions are tapered toward each other. Thus when the transverse partitions are in a common horizontal plane ready to be swung down into their operative position, the side edges of the transverse partitions do not engage the front and rear walls. That is, the bottom edges of the transverse partitions are narrower than the distance between the front and rear walls to enable the transverse partitions to be swung down to straddle the longitudinal partition without the side edges of the transverse partitions engaging the inner surfaces of the front and rear walls, until the transverse partitions are substantially in their final assembled position with respect to the longitudinal partition. I This facilitates the downward swinging movement of the transverse partitions and materially aids in the rapid erection of the box.

In order that the inner surfaces of the front and rear walls, when the box is in erected position, shall engage the side edges of the transverse partitions when swung down to their operative position, in my box I have made the distance across the transverse partitions at their widest points, that is, adjacent their top edges, the distance A, Fig. 1, greater thanthe sum of the widths of the bottom sections 34 and 31. This causes the box when erected to have its front and rear walls tapered inwardly and downwardly toward each other. The front and rear walls are made to taper toward each other by an amount corresponding to the taper of the side edges of the transverse partitions, so that as shown at 96, the side edges of the transverse partitions will engage the inner surfaces of the This construction aids in preventing the collapse of the box.

A further important feature of my invention is the arrangement of the T slits in the transverse partitions. The T slits are formed by cutting the material, and since they are merely slits, the margins of the T are contiguous. When folded down into straddling relation with the longitudinal partition, as shown in Fig. 10, the slit must accommodate two thicknesses of material. This requires the material adjacent the T slits to bend or flex somewhat along the incision lines 9 I. As mentioned above, the tabs formed between the T slits and the incisions 9|, due to the unscored parts along the line of the incisions 9|, are relatively stiff. The tabs 90 are however bent backward as the transverse partitions are swung down into engagement with the longitudinal partition. The edges of the T frictionally engage the side walls of the longitudinal partition so that a positive force is required to move the transverse partitions back toward their horizontal position after they are once in assembled relation with the longitudinal partition. The transverse partitions are thus firmly gripped to the longitudinal partition when the box is in erected position. The transversely extending arm of the T slits permits the material to flex or bend along the line of the incisions 9I without the material breaking or becoming distorted.

In Figs. 12, 13, and 14 I have shown a slightly modified form of my invention wherein the transverse partitions, designated by the numeral IOI,

front and rear walls when the box is erected. 75

are not as high as those previously described. However, they are hinged in the same manner and are provided with T slits I92. In this modification an incision I03 corresponding to the incisions 9I is cut on only one side of the T. When the transverse partitions IOI of Fig. 12 are folded down into the position shown in Fig. 13, they are swung slightly beyond the vertical, so that the edges I94 formed by the T slits, lodge behind and engage the shoulders I06 formed by the edge surfaces occasioned by reason of cutting the tabs GI in one of the sections of the longitudinal partition. On the other side of the longitudinal partition the surface is smooth so that the slits I03, provided on this side of the longitudinal partition, permit bending of the material and frictional engagement of the margins I0! of the T slits with the longitudinal partition. It will be appreciated that the lodging of the material adjacent the T slits behind the edge surfaces of the longitudinal partition of the modification shown in Figs. 12-14, inclusive, willalso occur in the case of the transverse partitions 69 of the preferred form of the invention.

It will be apparent that I have provided a box which may be cheaply fabricated, quickly folded and glued into condition for shipment, and quickly erected. Further, it will be apparent that I have provided effective locking means for retaining the transverse partitions in straddling and assembled relation with the longitudinal partition.

While I have shown and described the preferred forms of my invention, it will be apparent that various modifications may be made, particularly in the form and relation of parts, without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cell type box comprising a blank, cut, scored and folded to form a box having a longitudinal partition and a plurality of transverse partitions, certain of said transverse partitions each having a substantially T-shaped slit adapted to receive the longitudinal partition when said transverse partition is folded down into straddling engagement therewith, the material of said transverse partition adjacent said T slit being displaceable out of the plane of the remainder of said transverse partition and the margins of said slit frictionally engaging the sides of the longitudinal partition.

2. A cell type box comprising a blank, cut, scored and folded to form a box having a longitudinal partition and a plurality of transverse partitions, certain of said transverse partitions each having a substantially T-shaped slit adapted to receive the longitudinal partition when said transverse partition is folded down into straddling engagement therewith, a fold line adjacent said T slit extending generally vertically of said transverse partition, the material of said transverse partition between said T slit and said fold line being displaceable out of the plane of the remainder of said transverse partition to enable the margin of at least a portion of the slit to frictionally engage a side of the longitudinal partition.

3. A cell type box comprising a blank, cut, scored and folded to form a box having a longitudinal partition and a plurality of transverse partitions, said longitudinal partition being formed by a section of the blank scored. and folded substantially along its center line with portions of the section on only one side of thecenter line out to provide upstanding projections when said section is folded on said center line to form said longitudinal partition, said upstanding projections all lying in the same plane and the plane of the longitudinal partition and serving as part thereof.

4. In a box of the type wherein a single blank is cut, scored and folded to form a collapsible cellular box structure, a longitudinal partition comprising a section of material having two parallel longitudinal fold lines and an alternate series of scored and unscored portions lying substantially between said longitudinal fold lines and parallel thereto, the adjacent ends of said score lines being connected by cuts on only one side of said series of score lines to form tabs so that when the blank is folded on the series of fold lines to form the longitudinal partition the tabs extend upward all in a common plane to provide an extension thereof.

5. In a box of the type wherein a blank is cut, scored and folded to form a collapsible cellular box having a longitudinal partition and a series of transverse partitions, means comprising a substantially T-shaped slit in each of said transverse partitions for enabling the transverse partitions to be folded down into straddling relation with the longitudinal partition, said longitudinalpartition comprising two walls facing upon each other and having a fold line between them, portions of said longitudinal partition being cut so as to provide edge surfaces behind which the material adjacent the T slits in said transverse partitions may be lodged when the transverse partitions are folded into straddling relation with respect to the longitudinal partition.

6. In a box of the type wherein a single blank is cut, scored, and folded to form a collapsible cellular box structure, a longitudinal partition comprising a section of material having two longitudinal fold lines and an intermediate fold line thus forming two longitudinal partition sections, portions of the material cut from the section on one side of the intermediate fold line extending upwardly all in the same plane and in the plane of the longitudinal partition to form an extension thereof when the two longitudinal partition sections are brought contiguous to each other by folding the blank on said intermediate fold line.

7. In a box of the type wherein a blank is cut, scored, and folded to form a collapsible cellular box structure having a substantially vertically extending longitudinal partition and a series of transverse partitions, hinge means for enabling the transverse partitions to be folded into straddling relation with said longitudinal partition, said longitudinal partition comprising two walls facing upon and contiguous to each other and having a fold line between them, portions of one of said walls being cut out and extending beyond the fold line in the plane of the other wall, the remaining portions of said first wall forming shoulders along the vertically extending portions of said longitudinal partition with which the transverse partitions are engaged when the transverse partitions are folded into straddling relation with respect to the longitudinal partition.

'\ WILLIAM H. INMAN. 

